Railway-tie.



F. M. WEAVER RAILWAY TIE.

nrmonlox rum) OCT. 29, 1909.

913,246. Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

FRANCIS MARION WEAVER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TIE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

Application filed October 29, 1908. Serial No. 460,099.

b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS MARION WVEAVER, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to the construction of railways and moreparticularly to the road bed and is designed to provide a tie and railfastening means of novel formation, the tie being essentially of metalsuch as steel and provided at its ends with elastic sea-ts, such aswooden blocks to absorb vibration and thereby prevent wear and tear uponrolling stock instead of the use of unyielding ties wholly of metal,concrete, or the like.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof still the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section of a railway embodying the invention,the intermediate portion being broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofan end portion of a tie, a portion of the rail and the fastening meanssecuring the rail to the tie. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of abracket. Fig. l is a detail perspective view of a key cooperating withthe bracket and serving to secure the rail upon its seat. Fig. 5 is anend view of the key. Fig. 6 is an end view of a tie showing a portion ofa rail mounted thereon and the relation of the rail fastening means.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In accordance with this invention, a metal tie 1 is provided, the samebeing channeled in its upper side and comprising a base plate andupwardly extending flanges at the longitudinal edges of the base plate.Openings 2 are rovided at intervals in the bottom of the tie and serveas outlets for water, thereby preventing rusting of the tie and rapiddecay of the fibrous or elastic seats. The tie may be rolled, cast orformed in any desired way.

A block 3 is mounted upon each end of the tie and constitutes a seat forthe rail 1. Said blocks are of wood and are arranged with the grain at aright angle to the length of the rails so as to prevent splitting andinsure a long period of service. A clamp is placed against each end ofthe blocks and is secured to the tie. The clamp comprises an uprightportion 5, a base 6 and end pieces '1', the latter lying against theinner sides of the flanges 8 of the tie, and the upright 5 touching theblock, whereas the base (5 is fastened to the base or bottom of the tie.The end pieces 7 are upwardly deflected and constitute braces tostrengthen the uprights 5, thereby preventing any possible movement ofthe blocks 3 or the rails mounted thereon. A bracket is secured to eachclamp and comprises angular-1y disposed members 9 and 10. The member 9is riveted, or otherand is shouldered at 11 to overhang the upright 5whereby a substantial structure is provided. The member 10 overhangs theblock or rail seat 3 and is provided upon its under side with alongitudinal rib 12. A key 13 cooperates with each bracket and isgradually tapered throughout its length and is formed in its top sidewith a longitudinal groove 1% corresponding to the rib 12 to receive thelatter. The edge portion of the key adjacent to the foot of the rail israbbeted as indicated at 15 to receive the edge portion of the base orfoot of the rail, with the result that a portion of the key overhangsthe foot of the rail as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, thereby preventingvertical displacement of the rail. The keys 13 are preferably drivenunder the overhanging portions 10 of the brackets upon opposite sides ofa rail in opposite directions, as indicated in Fig. 2. When the keys aredriven home, they bind by a wedging action. To prevent outwarddisplacement of the keys pins 16 are driven into the blocks and engagewith the outer ends of the keys.

It is not necessary to secure the blocks or rail seats 3 to the clamps,since when the parts are assembled the weight of the rails and thecooperation of the keys and brackets serve to hold the parts 3 in place.When it is required to renew the blocks at any time the same may bequickly accomplished, it

wise secured to the upright 5 of the clamp,-

being necessary only to remove the keys 18 and force the block outthrough an opening formed by cutting away a portion of a flange 8 asshown at 17. The construction is such that the tie may be embeddedthereby preventing appreciable contraction and expansion. The woodenblocks forming the rail seats 3 may be cheaply replaced withoutentailing the expense incident to the supplanting of a wooden tie. Ifthe blocks of a tie wear unequally, it is necessary only to replace theblock that has become worn. The construction is such as to admit of theof the track being easily maintained, this being accomplished mainly bythe position of the clamps and brackets when first attached to the ties,any slight adjustment being effected by proper manipulation of the keys1?), it being understood that one key may be loosened upon one side of arail and the key upon the opposite side tightened.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1.. In combination a metal tie, a fibrous rail seat mounted thereon,clamps secured to the tie and engaging opposite portions of the railseat, brackets attached to the clamps and comprising portionsoverhanging the rail seat and having longitudinal ribs on their undersides, and keys located between the overhanging portions of the bracketsand engaging opposite edge portions of the foot of the rail mounted uponthe rail seat, said keys having longitudinal grooves in their uppersides to receive the aforementioned ribs.

2. In combination, a metal tie, a fibrous rail seat mounted thereon,clamps secured to and engaging opposite portions of said rail seat,brackets, each consisting of a vertical and horizontal member, thevertical members of the brackets being attached to the clamps andshouldered near their upper ends to extend over the upright portions ofsaid clamps, the horizontal portions of the brackets having longitudinalribs on their inner sides and keys engaged under the overhangingportions of the brackets, and grooves in their upper sides and rabbetedin their inner edges to receive the edge portions of the foot of therail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 7 in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANCIS MARION WEAVER.

